The bull of St Luke

THE GOSPEL OF LUKE

Rejection at Nazareth: Lk 4,21-30

We need to begin with verse 21 in order to cover the overlap between the two Sunday Gospels. Consider how reading verse 21 as a conclusion and as a beginning will give us rather different emphases.

Verse 21 sets the scene: Jesus' claim that the Isaiah quotation is being fulfilled in his own person. What then would be the expectations of the people as they comment in verse 22 and then hear verse 23? Note how Luke has altered Mark 6,2-3.

Look in the book of Kings at the story of Elijah and the widow (1 Kings 17,18-16) and of his disciple Elisha and the Syrian Naaman (2 Kings 5,1-14). From this, what is Jesus' message to the people of Nazareth?

What does his use of the examples of Elijah and Elisha tell us about how Jesus sees his own ministry?

Why are the examples of Elijah and Elisha so provocative to the people of Nazareth?

Have another look at my response.

The Sunday Gospel

The second part of the scene in the synagogue in Nazareth is read on the 4th Sunday OT, verse 21 being repeated from the previous week. We have seen the effect of this overlap in our reading.

The Old Testament reading is part of the call of Jeremiah, Jer 1,4-5.17-19. Look at these verses in their setting in your Bibles, in effect the whole of chapter 1 of Jeremiah. How therefore do these verses illustrate the Gospel?

Now look at my response.

Now we follow Jesus to Capernaum, 4,31-44.